PRoverbs 8:6-11

⁶ Hear, for I will speak noble things,
    and from my lips will come what is right,
⁷ for my mouth will utter truth;
    wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
⁸ All the words of my mouth are righteous;
    there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.
⁹ They are all straight to him who understands,
    and right to those who find knowledge.
¹⁰ Take my instruction instead of silver,
    and knowledge rather than choice gold,
¹¹ for wisdom is better than jewels,
    and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.

To HEAR wisdom is different than merely listening to her words flow in one ear and out the other.  To hear her is to hear (shama)  with attention and interest and to obey.   Our two ladies stand at the Crossroads.  One stands on the highest point proclaiming the name of God…the other lurks in the shadows and tries to enter into relationship with those that do not belong to her. We are children of God. WE belong to our Father. Sin is not our identity. Yet, she lurks and entices us with pretty words and promises.   We have two ears – two voices are being spoken at each crossroads, a thousand times a day.  The only way I can see that we have a chance – is by slowing down. Slowing down our reactions and our choices.  With prayerful consideration and  thought we can choose and discern which of the voices we are to obey.

What does slowing down look like to you?  How can you do that?

·      Do you know of any triggers that cause immediate reactions? Perhaps if you put them into the “Crossroads”- a visual representation of what we are being asked to choose between, it will bring light and discernment to both voices and the path will be made clearer?

·      What about temptations? Can you list them in  your crosswalk so that you are shining light on the truth and exposing the lies and the temptaions?

We all live in a crosswalk.  Allow me to take you on a visual for a moment. Do you remember when you were a kid and you were chosen to be the crossing guard?  You got to wear the white vest?  Or do you remember having a crossing guard in your town?  They may have had a yellow vest, or sash.

We are the crossing guard in our own hearts. In our visual now put Lady Wisdom on one street corner: high, lifted up, procaliming the names of God.  I see her in a white gown, flowing effortlessly in the winds of the Spirit, roses and Lillacs surround her- filling my senses with purity.

Put the adulteress, who wants what isn’t hers, on the opposite corner.  I don’t know- I see her dark haired in a red gown, with a plunging neck line---enticing through the senses.  Garish scents are too much, too strong as she goes overboard to entice the sons of man.

You are smack dab in the middle with your vest, white gloves and a whistle.

We GET TO CHOOSE what we allow into our crosswalk.  The adulteress speaks and calls, entices us, while Wisdom proclaims the names of God.  We get to choose. We get to slow down and listen to both sides of the argument and make a choice.  We have free will.  Who are you allowing into your intersection? We, literally, get to stop traffic and make a choice – moment by moment.

In looking at our Crosswalk, lets strip it down to “bare bones” – taking away the enticements and the lure.  What is offered at both corners?

⁷ for my mouth will utter truth;  WISDOM
    wickedness is an abomination to my lips. ADULTERESS
⁸ All the words of my mouth are righteous;  WISDOM
    there is nothing twisted or crooked in them. ADULTERESS
⁹ They are all straight to him who understands,  WISDOM
    and right to those who find  (To acquire) knowledge. WISDOM
¹⁰ Take my instruction instead of silver,
    and knowledge rather than choice gold, ADULTERESS: Worldly riches
¹¹ for wisdom is better than jewels, WISDOM better than monetary riches
    and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.  ADULTERESS- in her – all that we desire, through the senses are mere whisps of smoke – compared to what Lady Wisdom offers us as foundational blessings. 

Can you add these lies and promises into your journal spread this week, on the opposite sides of your crosswalk? 

Note: In praying through the lesson this week, I have come to see “the adulteress” as the personification of sin. She wants what isn’t hers- she wants the hearts of the children of God. This term I will be using is not meant to insult or point fingers…but as a visual juxtaposition to Lady Wisdom.